People: Feb. 25, 1985

Thank you for inviting me to speak tonight, ladies. My name, as you all know, is Barbie. Remember when all I cared about was making sure that Ken took me to the prom? Well, those baby-doll days are part of the unliberated past. Today’s Day-to-Night Barbie is 26 and equally at ease in the executive suite or at the disco. We’re not talking about knee-jerk feminism here, ladies, and I do think it would be unfair to say, “Barbie goes yuppie.” But I now have my own workout center, computer-equipped work station and attache case, complete with calculator, business cards and newsmagazine. Projecting our femininity is still just as important as ever. That is why I asked Fashion Designer Oscar de la Renta, 52, to create four glamorous gowns especially for me. At $8 each, they are such a bargain that I’ve even saved enough to buy a Rolex for my Day-to-Night Ken.